Name: Kimmy McAtee and Nathan Bell
Location: Downtown Arts District — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,300 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months — Rent
Practically brand new residents to this space, Kimmy and Nathan relocated from a nearby loft only a few blocks away. Their love of downtown Los Angeles and the arts district keeps them inspired and always involved in local events and their new home is a perfect space for entertaining and gathering.
Kimmy and Nathan's home exudes restraint, with a minimalism that somehow remains highly personal to them. With their adorable pugs, who are clearly the most valuable part of their home to their incredible collection of artwork, everything has meaning and says volumes about their personal tastes. Kimmy says the most essential part of designing a home is "creating a space that we want to live in. It has to be functional - and allow both of us do what we need to do. But of course you want a good design aesthetic - you want to come home and be happy and host your friends."
When you live this close to the evolving artist district it's easy to be involved in everything that's happening around you; the culture, the city, the local music scene and of course the arts. "Being that Nathan is an artist and DJ we have a space to do screen-printing and make things as well as host an entire wall of records. Kimmy is in marketing and the editor of the Keep A Breast magazine working to create all the content for KAB. All the space and natural light is amazing for photo shoots and videos. The kitchen island was a must have as we love having our friends over."
Enjoy!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Recreational, Art Driven, Personal.
The loft speaks to our style - it's very easy to get a sense of who we are just from a few minutes inside.
Inspiration: We draw inspiration from the pieces that we own. We are both casual collectors to a degree. Nathan calls me a "Chair Whore" but I just love furniture - in the eight years we have been together I have owned 13 sofas - seriously. Nathan collects vinyl and moonlights as a DJ at Tony's, a local bar. We find a lot of inspiration from our jobs and friends; in fact, our own friends have created a large proportion of the art we have collected throughout the years. For the most part, we look at all the rad things that we accumulated and decide how to showcase them in the best way and let it organically shape the way each "room" is built.
Favorite Element: The space. It has enabled us to roll our motorcycle into the loft and to put a swing in the middle of the room without disrupting any flow or us feeling overwhelmed - we love that.
Biggest Challenge: We moved into the loft in the middle of a heat wave. Everyone wonders why we didn't put the bedroom upstairs - or an office. But it was ridiculously hot - like that unbearable Bikram yoga hot. So, we decided to convert it into a walk in closet instead - the perfect solution since both of us have extensive wardrobes.
Another challenge we overcame was just moving in together - the challenge was balancing our separate lives, spaces, and the clothing line we had together. A lot of heated conversations about space, and what (or who) got priority. Oddly it took moving into a loft - where we had no walls and no way to get away from each other - to actually find that spatial harmony.
What Friends Say: Everyone always walks in and notices the swing. At first people seem to be baffled as to why we would have a swing - most people love it - and the haters are always quick to start swinging and instagramming photos of how high they can go.
Biggest Embarrassment: Pug hair... on everything. One time we had a furniture designer walk into our space and freaked out on our Ligne Roset sofa. It's a super expensive sofa that Kimmy was in love with and somehow scored at an estate sale for only a few hundred dollars. People are sometimes appalled at how we would let the dogs play all over it. But what can we say - they do what they want. We are total pushover dog lovers.
Proudest DIY: Can we say our proudest DIY is hiring our friend Sven to build half the furniture in the space? He built the bed, swing, kitchen island, the coat rack / hidden shelf, and the closet. He is a very talented, awesome human being.
Biggest Indulgence: That is a hard one - we have slowly accumulated things over time, thrifting and getting deals or convincing friends to build things... we also shop on sites like Gilt.com or at Target. We both work for a non-profit so we tend not to indulge. If you add everything up we would have to say our biggest indulgence would be Nathan's record addiction.
Best Advice: Inspiration is closer than you might realize. Almost all the art we own is by friends or things we have done ourselves and they all have a story or a meaning to us. The bottom line we think is to not own anything you don't love.
PAINT & COLORS
- • the place came white
ENTRY
- • Coat rack is made by Sven Barth
• Bench is thrifted
• Lockers are thrifted
LIVING ROOM
- • sofa is Ligne Roset
• architect cabinet (coffee table) Ligne Roset
• fiberglass shell chair rocker - Modernica
• IKEA bookshelves for records
DINING ROOM
- • kitchen island by Sven Barth
KITCHEN
- • kitchen chevron / Americana stuff by Curiosity Shoppe for Target
BEDROOM
- • bed by Sven Barth
BATHROOM
- • Target
• Costco
OTHER
- • Art - Miranda July, Ben Horton, Travis Millard, Mark "Fos" Foster, Mike Maxwell, Hershel Baltrotsky, Michael Coleman, Lyle Wessels, Jim McHugh, Chad Foreman, Jay Howell, kozyndan, Scott Benzel, Ed Templeton, Kyle MayNerd Lunneborg, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Milton Glaser, Michael Buchino, Andy Jenkins, Nathan Bell. And a bunch others that I can't name off the top of my head, so I am sorry (and get more legible signatures).
OTHER
- • We both work for the Keep A Breast Foundation (Nathan as Art Director, myself as the VP of PR and Marketing) - www.keep-a-breast.org
We own a small clothing line together - www.thisisponyattack.com
Nathan has a amazing beard accessories line called Beard Buddy. www.beard-buddy.com
Thanks, Kimmy and Nathan!
Images: Bethany Nauert
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What a cool space! Makes me want to move into the city.
I want everything in this place - including her shoes. Only thing I would add would be a giant mural behind the couch.
i like the closet.
Dream loft! I hope to find something like this around London some day :)
Something about the lack of soft flooring bothers me. I live in an old apartment in the city with ceramic tile flooring, and if I didn't have a few throw rugs to sit on I would go insane.
The shower curtain is driving me crazy. Please tell there is a longer one behind it.
I agree with tkj re the rugs and think it could do with the furniture being pulled away from the walls. Love the space though.
Downtown LA is going through so many changes. I must be exciting to be in the middle of it. It's nice to see a space that seems so finely tuned to the occupants.
It looks a bit cold for my taste.
I love that it's full of personality! Although I must say it does feel a little cold. Probably because I'm in a freezing cold country and not on the East coast!! Nice job.
Nathan calls me a "Chair Whore"
Ha! I feel for ya Kimmy. I, too, am suffering from said affliction. I've been trying to keep only the best but I keep find more..."Best!" There's just not enough room!
Check out some of the chairs that I have or have had here.
There is a larger clear one behind that one. We moved in three months ago and the bathroom has definitely been the last priority... the shower is on a weird angle and you cant hang a curtain rod so we had to get thrifty and hang it from the ceiling. We did it a little short because one of the pugs likes to jump in there after you take a shower, and didn't want her to trip on it. She's a little weird :)
"Exudes restraint" is a funny phrase.
Like it! Two thumbs up for swing & pug hair. Somehow, what's behind the couch works. I could go crazy with side chairs too (no room); some are 'art' not a place to park. Thx for sharing.
I like all the space,and I love that they have their friends contribute art and furniture.BUT,it indeed looks like a warehouse someone threw some furniture in,and that dirty sofa would drive me mad.I love animals too,but NOT on my furniture.But that bed and swing are awesome!
I love this place. The wood ceiling is fab. And that pug!. Oh what a cutie. He's obviously well loved and you can always get a new sofa. As long as he's comfy that's all that matters. Love their attitude. THose lockers are really cool, too.
The 1890's are alive!
The apartment itself is pretty cool. Nice high wood ceilings *drool*. I really like the art wall it fills the space nicely and the lockers are awesome. My critique of the rest of the space though is that the other art is really out of proportion to the ceiling height. The piece above the sofa would drive me crazy; it looks like a postage stamp floating in a sea of white. The rest of the space needs some larger pieces or more pieces grouped together...of wall shelves or fabric panels to bring in some colour! There is too much blank white canvas that needs to be filled. It kind of makes me uncomfortable.
I see no reason for a house tour THREE months into people moving in.
@nolabee - Am I misunderstanding, or are you saying is that you're not open minded enough to find interest in something that's ONLY been around for three months in it's current state?
I don't actually love this space but my goodness, three weeks, three months...three decades....when is it "ok" to have a home tour?
What an amazing place! I'm about to go back for another squiz. It's great to see such a fun, lively space containing a good dose of pre-owned pieces. Old stuff for me just makes a place so much more interesting.
Now speaking of 'old stuff', about those pugs. My Guswald died a couple of months ago and my heart still aches when I think of him. What I'm trying to say is, make sure you squeeze those beasts every chance you get (despite the need to brush off afterwards).
@nolabee - I don't get your comment either.
It just doesn't make sense to me is all. Three months of living in a place? I'd barely be unpacked. Their space is going to become so much more "them" 6-9 months from now.
go do it right now is fantastic - artist? thanks!
I love the space but can imagine much more going on in the space while still remaining minamalist. Eh.
Thanks for sharing this Los Angeles loft. At one point there were lofts in Long Beach and LA and I wanted one so bad. I am not sure now if loft living is for me, but it seemed the epitome of cool at the time, and this tour proves. Those two are just cool. I am not cool enough for a loft, and truth be told never was. And, it is kind of like camping. There is that.
@brooklynbeetle - the artist is Matt Hoffman heyitsmatthew.com
Thanks everyone for all the nice comments and feedback! We definitely chose to have large white walls and no rugs. With all the creating, shoots, and things that we do in our space it makes it super easy to move furniture and paint, have a large shoot, play videos on the projector, or just skate and play around in the loft. (we've even rented a bounce house for Thanksgiving!!)
Also, the dogs said thanks for all the pug love!
xo Kimmy and Nathan
Nice work! You've convinced me every home should have a swing.
AT really needs a copyeditor. Those first two sentences are like a word salad.
What an amazing place!I love loft!Quite awesome inspirations!The photos on the wall are so cute!
Dear Kimmy and Nathan,
A few years ago; I used to live downtown LA as well and i always love everyone lives in a loft full of space and full of light.
Unfortunately; Everyone downtown used to have the same style, same furniture, deco, colors; yours is just exquisite, eye catching. I love how the walls are whites but still inviting because of the artwork you have. I love how the floor is "Naked".
You went for a style that is clean and simple, yet i can see the edgy personality of the owners of the space! I love it.
Leaving there must be a paradise for artists, the place just inspire you to be creative.
good job darlings.
ps: lots of kisses to your little furry friend! too cute!
xo
Elise Som - Designer
I love this space and how you've incorporated high end pieces with items and fixtures "off the rack", ie, IKEA. It has a lived-in look, which loft spaces sometimes tend to evade with all the designer touches.
All that said, I must also side with you on your decision letting your pets enjoy the furniture as well. We've had, at various times of our lives, couches, chairs, beds, etc that we tried to keep the cats from using. It ended up with the rooms being closed off (so no one, human or fur-mate, used them), or everything was draped in old sheets and blankets (which was ugly and depressing). Furniture is meant to be seen and enjoyed by all the occupants of a household. :)
@nolabee I got your back. I totally agree that three months is a little short. I don't want to see a first draft just like I don't want to see dirty clothes on the ground. I'm sure Kimmy & Nathan will make this place look even more awesome in the coming months, but right now it looks like they're still in the process of upsizing.
I would love to see those t-shirt screens put up on the walls instead of on top of lockers.
Totally digging the domino-maze of wall art and the friend-made professional furniture.
So............jealous!
This is the first time I couldn't even bother to finish a tour.....
Ohh, so lovely!
I know this isn't a fashion site, but where are her shoes from? Swooooon.
The swing is very therapeutic ..I'm getting a swing chair for my grandson's room. All areas are open and free..no clutter. May we have a tour as one said...9-12 months from now?
Keep on keeping it open...no heavy stuff..enjoy your life and opportunities now.
Great mix of furniture and storage pieces (and that motorbike is killer!) But what i love is all that negative space..would be very easy to fill it with more and more stuff so i'm happy you can restrain yourselves. (plus i guess if you had more stuff where would you swing?) The Ligne Roset blue couch and the grey Pug are a perfect colour combo!
Love the swing, bed, and gallery wall (done right).
@jschmi20 They are Vena Cava for TenOverSix (on sale right now)
http://shop.tenover6.com/collections/women-shoes/products/talisman
With all that space why is the sofa all huddled up against the wall? It's like it's embarrassed about the grubby state it's in! On the upside, this is the first time ever I've seen a gallery wall so perfectly aligned.
Right on with letting the pugs enjoy their home as well! I figure if the Queen allows her corgis & dorgis on the priceless furniture in her royal residences well, who am I to fuss over my decidedly less valuable stuff. As I read on this very site once, " dog hair is the condiment of life".
Too many things on the floor and shoved/piled in corners. I think their style and idea is there, but it just looks unkempt.
Swap the sofa for a black leather buttoned 3 seater and I am so all over that. That blue is yucky, and it's really under scaled for the space. What I'd really like to see is the motorcycle parked inside. That would be cool.
Found it! Net's a bit slow here.
Im in love with this set up.
@kimmymcatee I absolutely love the pieces Sven Barth created for you! I'm also in the Arts District and would be seriously interested in taking a look at what he could do for our space. Does he have a website or would you be able to pass along his contact info?? Love your pups, btw :)
cheers!
@iamnic - check out builtbybarth.com or email at svenabarth@gmail.com
What kind of a man stacks magazines on his guitar amp?